Peninsula Jewish community group claims anti-Semitic action by Williamsburg nonprofit

“The Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula is shocked and alarmed at LoveLight Placemaking’s decision to cancel a menorah lighting scheduled for the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival on Dec 10 – claiming it did not want to appear to choose sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict. To be clear, the menorah lighting, which was to be led by a local community rabbi, had nothing to do with Israel or the conflict. Yet, appallingly, the event organizer claimed that a Chanukah celebration would send a message that the festival was "supporting the killing/bombing of thousands of men, women, and children," -- and even went a step further, by offering to reinstate the event if it was done under a banner calling for a ceasefire. We should be very clear: it is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions, and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel. Those standards would never be applied to another community. Since October 7th, we have repeatedly seen cases of Jewish people and institutions – including synagogues, Jewish homes and businesses – being targeted, sometimes violently, by those opposed to Israel or its actions. At a time of well-documented, rising antisemitism, the singling out and targeting of Jews is dangerous and harmful, serving to further exclude and alienate our community. The Second Sundays Art & Music Festival has been a meaningful and important community event that brings people together under a powerful message of unity, love and light. Excluding Jewish participation from a festival that should welcome everyone undermines its very message. We call on LoveLight Placemaking to reconsider our request to engage in dialogue, educate themselves on the harmfulness of their decision, and reinstate the apolitical Menorah ceremony at the event.”

“The menorah lighting was never “canceled” because it was never scheduled in the first place. It was proposed but was not consistent with the purpose of this non-religious, community art and music festival, and the proposal was denied. In 14 years this street festival has never had a religious program as one of its events. This is not a discriminatory act but one based on the objectives of the organization and the sincere desire to make this monthly event a place where all people can come together to enjoy MUSIC and ART. It feels very wrong to label anyone associated with this as an anti-Semite when the rejection of this religious programming was entirely consistent with our decision to keep our gathering focused on music and art, rather than religious ceremonies. We support Jewish small business owners and musicians who sell and sing at our events every month. We respect and love our Jewish community members and wish them a very happy Hanukkah. But we standby our mission to create a safe place for all to gather and enjoy art and music and chose not to showcase religious ceremonies of any faith as part of our programming. We are not comfortable or interested in taking religious or cultural sides. A time was never settled on, or permit never issued for the events that Rabbi Mendy Heber was proposing & doing in the midst of our permitted & insured 6 block festival in downtown Williamsburg. He’d asked to add a menorah lighting & firetruck geld drop in an area that has to be kept open at all times for entering & exiting traffic . Logistically, physically, religiously & cultural the events were not going to fit and it’s very unfortunate that the most diverse & inclusive event in Williamsburg is being false accused & labeled anti Semitic.”